Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Sumaye: Bad politics is a major cause of public violence among peaceful nations

Retired Prime
Minister Fredrick Sumaye has strongly cautioned youths against any political
malpractice to which they might be directly forced to get involved with by some
crook politicians in the country at this time when the nation is getting
prepared for the general election slated for 2015. Sumaye made the observations
yesterday in Arusha in his opening remarks at a one day sensitization seminar
aimed at brushing members of the ruling party (CCM) for Arusha region
especially youths who are easily tempted to be absorbed into political clashes.
The yesterday’s seminar had discussed the opportunities of youths in the
country and their role of keeping peace and harmony especially at this time
when the country is getting prepared towards general election. Other matters
discussed in the seminar included loans for students of higher learning
institutions as well as those preparing to undergo secondary education in the
country. In addition to that, the seminar also discussed youth’s entrepreneurship
programmes. In his speech, former premier insisted youths should be good
protectors of peace and harmony which ids prevailing in the country and get out
of bad mindsets that could lead them into committing immorality which could
result into disruption of peace during the coming general election. Sumaye is on the view of the fact that, youths
are always assigned by some political parties to ignite violence just for the
interest of few greedy politicians. He has therefore asked youths not to engage
themselves in such malpractices which basically are meant to destroy human
dignity. Sumaye has also faulted some parties which after having seen have
failed in the elections, they tend to deliberately cause violence and in doing
so they use youths to facilitate their desire, which ultimately ended up into
violence. However, he has also cautioned the National Election Commission (NEC)
to be fair and transparency when announcing winners after the election, saying that
they are also at fault when they pick up a winner whom the majority did not
vote. By doing so, the former premier noted that was an offense which
ultimately causes violence. “Victimization and nepotism of any kind that is
shown towards contestants for any contesting party are the attitudes that plant
some seeds of discords among the people and these are among elements that cause
political chaos in communities”, he said.

He further reiterated that, during
the election activities especially when votes are being counted, transparency
should be adhered before winners are announced, as going against the democratic
procedures violence is likely to erupt. “It is through ballot elections when
voters uses their democracy and this is their basic right constitutionally”, he
said and added that therefore it should be adhered to at all cost, and for
whoever feels to have been snatched away with this right, the habit would not
be tolerated and the culprits should b e held responsible whatsoever. In this
way, the ex-premier continued and noted that in some other countries in the
world where the situation happens, people have found themselves having no
appetite of maintaining peace and harmony any more during the general election
processes. He also talked of corruption as another aspect that causes violence
in the country during general elections saying that it is a democratic disaster
which undermines the right of the contestants as some uses money to buy voters
into letting them win the election. Premier Sumaye has urged youths not to
engage themselves in this also as there are various corruptions which are used
to manipulate the whole process of elections. He queried those who uses lots of
money to bribe voters or manipulate the results, where do they get money to
refund what they shall have spent during the election, and suppose they are retained
in power, uses their position to engage in the misappropriation of public property
or selling illegal drugs in order to remit the money they use for campaigning.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.